Champagne on ice for what could be a champion week

Bann hope to be celebrating this week. Pic: Rowland White / Presseye.

Bann’s Ulster Premier League hopes have been given a boost as title rivals Lisnagarvey have been handed a two point deduction by Ulster Hockey for allegedly failing to supply an umpire.

That means Bann could win the league as early as tonight, should Garvey fail to beat Annadale after Bann continued their perfect league record with a 3-1 win over Cookstown last night.

Then on Saturday, a draw would be enough to secure a route through to the IHL finals weekend at Three Rock Rovers.

It’s the finals hosts themselves that visit Havelock Park on Saturday (pass-back 2pm) and Bann boss Mark Tumilty is warning his side that progression is not yet assured.

“It will be a challenge,” he said. “We need to realise that they’ll want us out of the compeition. They’ll be looking to come up here and give us a hiding.

“We also need to be conscious of the fact that Monkstown are probably going to win the other pool so we want to try and avoid them in the semi-final.”